#FosteringTrowbridge campaign launches to help find 25 new foster carers for the Trowbridge area

Trowbridge area residents are being asked to consider becoming a foster carer as Wiltshire Council looks to recruit 25 more foster families in the area to provide much needed support and a loving home to those children in care.

Wiltshire Council currently has 24 foster families in the Trowbridge area, however latest figures show a further 25 foster families are needed to help ensure children and young people in care can stay near their schools, families and friends. Children not living with Wiltshire Council foster carers often live further away from their school, friends and family. They may be placed with independent fostering agencies, sometimes outside of Wiltshire altogether.

This July the council will be sharing information across Trowbridge in a bid to encourage more people to call or text and find out more.
Fostering team officers will also be available for drop-in chats at these venues and dates:

• The Weavers Market, Trowbridge Town Hall, Saturday 10 July 10am to 3pm
• The Community Hub The Shires on 14 and 28 July from 10am to 2pm

There will also be an information session for local businesses on 21 July and an information session for all on Wednesday 28 July at 7:30pm.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services said: "We are so fortunate to have people who provide a warm, loving home for our children in care, however we still need more. When you foster for Wiltshire Council you're ensuring a child can stay local, ideally can still attend their own school and are closer to home. We know there will be people out there thinking they want to know more and I would encourage them to drop into one of the sessions, or give us a call, and we can provide more information and help people on that road to making a difference to one of our local children.

"We are starting this campaign in Trowbridge but we hope to take this to other areas in the future where we have a particular need to encourage more people to come forward and foster."

The campaign with the hashtag #FosteringTrowbridge is part of a wider three-year drive to recruit 100 new foster carers across Wiltshire. Currently 41 new foster carers have been recruited since it was launched in May 2020. There is a real need for specialist foster carers and those wishing to care for teenagers.

Foster carers need to be over 21 years of age, have a spare bedroom, time to care for a child and a willingness to care for young people who have experienced trauma and loss.

People who foster with Wiltshire Council are given training and continued support. Payments reflect the commitment carers are making to the role. There are different fostering schemes available ranging from £350 to £650 a week depending on people's skills, experience and the type of support the young person requires.

For more information, visit www.fostering.wiltshire.uk email fostering@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) , call 0800 169 6321 or Text Foster to 60002.